Kisii County farmer Meshack Mogaka allows a Kenyoro Secondary School student to feel the weigh of one of his cocks on July 15, 2016 at the Kisii ASK Show. A Kimbu County farmers has made more than Sh35,000 net profit from chicken sales in the 2016 festive season. PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT. 

When William Osoro started a 100 chicken project in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, in April 2016, he first identified the market as part of his strategy of making more profits.

Eight months later, Osoro has sold 80 chickens about of the 91 chicks that survived after nine died in the course of growing.

“Improved kienyeji chickens are good to rear because of tolerance to diseases. Since my target was to sell the chicken meat, timing was key in the map to realising a good market. In my calculation, I knew the market is plenty in December. Indeed that has worked for me,” Osoro said.

For the 67 hens he has already sold before Christmas, the urban farmer has made Sh67,000. The 13 cocks have earned him Sh16,900 after selling each at Sh1,300.

Osoro hopes to sell the remaining 11 hens before the end of 2016 which would earn him a total gross income of Sh94,900.

“My total expenses for the eight months reached Sh56,000. That is excluding the chicken house. After selling the remaining chickens, I expect to make a net profit of about Sh38,500,” the farmer said.

READ ALSO: Turkey farming earns thrice chicken income in six months

READ ALSO: Rearing over 80 chickens on a two by two metres space

READ ALSO: KARI creates 35,000 super chicken

Feeding chicken after maturity does not add much value to the farmer. In fact, they are likely to get into more losses if the prices fall, as it happens after festivities.

When the demand for chicken is low, an eight-month hen fetched between Sh600 and Sh800 while cocks cost from Sh900 onwards. 

From the hens, the leap from Sh800 to Sh1,000 is a 25 per cent profit increase.

“There isn’t much negotiation on the price. Many people want the chickens. One has little option, but to buy,” he said.

Osoro, who is also runs a kiosk at nearby town of Kinoo, bought the one-eighth of an acre in 2015 and set up a simple residential house.